MEDIA REACTION: U.S. RETURN TO ASIA, NORTH KOREA, CHINA'S

UNCLAS BEIJING 002118 DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR PREL ECON ENRG CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. RETURN TO ASIA, NORTH KOREA, CHINA'S ENERGY SECURITY STRATEGY -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. RETURN TO ASIA "China should pay a high degree of attention to the United States returning to Asia" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (07/24): "It is foreseeable that in the future China will be facing pressure from the United States in three areas. The first is in economic competition. At present, China is replacing Japan as the leader in Asia. After returning to Asia, the United States' alliance with Japan and South Korea will be strengthened and this trend - China's emerging leadership role in the region - could change. In the field of energy development, the United States, intentionally or unintentionally, might ignore China's pressure and continue to support Southeast Asian countries, working, for example, with the Vietnamese on oil exploration and exploitation. The second is in regional territorial disputes. In this regard, the United States may use its status as a "traditional ally" and "mediator" to contain China. The third is over the Taiwan Straits issue. It will be more convenient for the United States to intervene in the Taiwan Straits issue after returning to Asia." ¶2. NORTH KOREA "Hillary would like to use 'motherhood' to conquer North Korea" Elite Reference (Qingnian Cankao),a newspaper affiliated with the official Communist Youth League's China Youth Daily (07/24): "[In her recent comments,] Hillary has tried to play down the idea that 'North Korea constitutes a threat to the United States.' Hillary's comparison of North Korea to 'a willful child' immediately attracted media attention because it was the United States' first high-level response to North Korea since North Korea launched seven missiles on its Independence Day. Hillary Clinton is trying not to make a fuss over tensions with North Korea, and is [instead] trying to pull North Korea back to the negotiating table through a variety of moves. Indeed, after Obama took office, the foreign policy of the United States began to adjust from the unilateralism of Bush era toward a path of greater cooperation. The keynote of Hillary's first trip to Asia this February was 'listening.' It seems that the hegemony idea of the United States is beginning to change to one of 'motherhood.'" ¶3. CHINA'S ENERGY SECURITY STRATEGY "China's energy security strategy: need to work on all fronts" The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China Business News (Diyi Caijing) (07/24): "Xia Yishan, a researcher at the China Energy Strategy Research Center at the China Institute of International Studies, argued that China is facing tough energy challenges, the most severe one being supply of energy resources. It is necessary for China to provide 50% percent of its energy needs domestically. China must seek oil supply from around the world since, in the future, up to 60% or 70% of China's oil needs will need to be met by foreign supply. China should build a comprehensive and multi-level energy security system to ensure energy safety based on the following principles: first, participation in international competition and active implementation of an 'outward' strategy; second, better coordination of relations with neighboring countries and avoidance of political and military conflict; and third, trying to get involved in international oil pricing." GOLDBERG